European Fencing Confederation

The European Fencing Confederation (EFC; French: Confédération européenne d'escrime, CEE) is an international body created in 1991, charged with the promotion and development of fencing in Europe. It organises the European Fencing Championships annually at several levels: cadets (U17), junior (U20), under 23, seniors and veterans (more than 40 years old).

European Fencing Confederation
AbbreviationEFC
Formation1991 (1991)
TypeSports organisation
HeadquartersLuxembourg
Region served
Europe
Official language
English, French
Websiteeurofencing.info

The Confederation comprises all national European fencing federations, plus that of Israel, and is under the authority of FIE. In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EFC agreed with the FIE to ban Russian and Belarusian fencers, and reallocated competitions that were due to be held in Russia and Belarus.[1] On 10 March 2023, the European Fencing Confederation became the only regional Olympic governing body to officially reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, in time for the start of the qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[2]

History and goals

It was founded on 26 October 1991 in Vienna, Austria, and is based in Luxembourg at the headquarters of the Luxembourg Fencing Federation.

Its goals are:

  • promotion and development of fencing in Europe;
  • facilitate technical collaboration between the different federations;
  • co-ordination and improvement of the teaching of fencing in Europe;
  • representation of fencing to European authorities;
  • organisation of the European Fencing Championships.

Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov was president of the European Fencing Confederation from 2005 to 2009.[3]

Effect of 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

In reaction to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EFC agreed with the FIE to ban Russian and Belarusian fencers, and reallocated competitions that were due to be held in Russia and Belarus.[1]

In June 2022, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President, was removed from his position as European Fencing Confederation President at an Extraordinary Congress following a unanimous vote of no confidence in Pozdnyakov in March 2022, due to his xenophobic conduct in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4]

On 10 March 2023, the European Fencing Confederation became the only regional Olympic governing body to officially reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, in time for the start of the qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[5] In protest, Denmark,[6] France,[7] Germany [8] and Poland [9] cancelled upcoming World Cup fencing events.

Organs
František Janda, president of the EFC

The organs of the EFC comprise:

  • the General Assembly—the supreme organ of the Confederation, composed of delegates appointed by the member federations;
  • the Executive Committee (COMEX)—composed of 10 members elected by the General Assembly, each from a different federation;
  • the President;
  • two Auditors.

Commissions

The COMEX elects the members of nine commissions that deal with specialised areas:

  • Competition Commission;
  • Veterans Commission;
  • Promotion/Marketing Commission;
  • Referees Commission;
  • Training/Fencing Masters Commission;
  • SEMI Commission;
  • Athletes Commission;
  • Finance Commission;
  • Handicapped Commission.

See also

References
  1. "EFC Executive Committee passes no-confidence vote in President Pozdnyakov". www.insidethegames.biz. April 9, 2022.
  2. Patrick Burke (10 March 2023). "FIE approves return of Russian and Belarusian fencers in time for start of Paris 2024 qualifying". insidethegames.biz.
  3. "Hall of Fame: Usmanov, Alisher Burkhanovich". FIE. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  4. "ROC leader Pozdnyakov deposed as President of European Fencing Confederation". www.insidethegames.biz. May 31, 2022.
  5. Patrick Burke (10 March 2023). "FIE approves return of Russian and Belarusian fencers in time for start of Paris 2024 qualifying". insidethegames.biz.
  6. "Denmark cancels event over Russian, Belarusian participation". 30 March 2023.
  7. "Fencing World Cup in France cancelled after governing body readmits Russians". 31 March 2023.
  8. "Germany cancels World Cup event after Russia, Belarus readmitted". 17 March 2023.
  9. "Fencing in turmoil after irked Poles cancel World Cup event". 5 April 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.